Morning journal and courier., 1887-03-07
AN ELOQUENT TKIBUTE

Of Friendship and Regard for Henry Ward Beecher Delivered by a Premi- nent New Haven Pastor Last Even. ing.
 Rev. Dr. Peck at Trinity M. E. church last evening delivered an eloquent and apprecia- tive tribute regarding Henry Ward Beecher. He said:
 ''I lay aside my announced sermon to night to pay tribute of love to my friend, Henry Ward Beecher. We are not of the same de- nomination, nor of the same theological type, but our hearts have been one for many years. In the autumn of 1883 he grasped my hand at Fulton Ferry, as we were about to
 depart, and said: My race is almost run.
 When I die want you to speak at my funer-
 al. want friend who recognizes my limi
 tations, but believes in my sincerity ,and will
 make no apologies, to represent me in that
 hour
 ''On the last Sunday of my pastorate in
 Brooklyn in March, 1884, committee want
 ed him to speak. They knew he would never
 speak on Sunday afternoon-not even visit
 ing his own Sunday school. They entreated
 me to go with them and make the request
 that he speak. I finally yielded. He shook
 his head and replied: Gentlemen, 1 posi-
 lively refuse to speak Sunday afternoons
 anywhere, but will do anything Dr. Peck
 asks me-
 'sI refer to these facts to prove that the
 claim of friendship was not ex-parte. And
 as my recent illness and plans compel me to
 leave for the South tomorrow I must speak
 now or not at all It will be privilege to
 speak the sentiments of my heart in this hour
 whether the grand man is mortal or immor-
 tai.
 'Henry Ward Beecher could not and proba-
 bly, would not desire to escape the diversity
 of mems estimates of his ability, excellence
 and usefulness. Any man who shakes the
 world and, like the apostle, turns it upside
 down will be loved and hated, glorifed and
 denounced. This is one of the sequences of
 yielding large power. When I look at the
 life work of Henry Ward Beecher for about forty years the impress he has made on Amer ican history compels me to exclaim: "A giant has passed this way!
 s'I realize how utterly impossible it is for me to portray MT. Beecher. He is so many sided in genius, 50 kaleidoscopic in the play of his great powers that only another Beech CT could make just portraiture of Beech CT. And here let me say that while I admire and love Henry Ward Beecher I do not es-
 teem him perfect man or a model theolo- gian." Dr. Peck proceeding with charitable words of allowance as to the imperfections of human judgment in all men, however great or renowned, including theologians, 1 said: ''Theology, the science of God, must | ever remain an incomplete science since no | finite mind will ever comprehend the infinite. Mysteries will ever hang around our pro- l foundest conceptions of God and his govern l ment as clouds skirt the horizon" Dr. l Peck then spoke of one secret of Beecher's | success, his strong and we'll balanced phys | ical organization. 'tMr Beecher was a l by cultivation. The obvious lesson from l this was enforced. Dr. Peck the spoke of l Beecher's mental power, bis massive brain and it's fine quality. "He had all the in l sights, imagination and emotion of 8 poet l He was a prose poet of great brilliancv. !" l The subtle metaphysics of Beecher were pe- | culiarly striking. He was 8 metaphysician, not so much by intuition as by necessity This l quality was in the texture of his mind. This l quality is not paraded, but his masterly ser mons could not have been erected without that metaphysical quality.
 | Beecher's grand power of illustration was | the next feature of the discourse, the speaker in words of deep interest enlarging upon this ! one of Bseeher's great sources of power; then speaking of Beecher's sparkling wit and 1 humor, combined with an overfowing good
 nature and chastened by a genuine kindness which made him king of the feast in social hours"
 Dr. Peck next considered him as a Chris | tian man, saying among other things: "My conviction, as the result of personal inter course and thoughtful study of his writings, l is that MT. Beecher was man of real, deep spirituality and one who has ever striVen to | be true disciple of the Master" In conclusion MT. Peck paid 8 glowing
 tribute to Beecher as g patriot, grandly speaking of the magnificent work Beeoher
 did in his battling against slavery and against | injustice to the Indian, the Mongolian, to
 women and the laboring classes, and general | ly in the cause of humanityj and his magni-
 fcent oratory in behalf:of the Union at home
 and in the old world. ''He was an inspiring
 force in the history of the republic, and his
 fame Is assHred.H
 Nothing need cover his high fame but heaven, No pyramids set off his memories; But the eternal substance of his greatness To which leave him.